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Community, Politics

Cortes Foundation made up shortfall for 2026 Grants in Aid

The Cortes Community Foundation has once again shown how invaluable resource it is to the community. Regional Director Mark Vonesch has a budget of about $25,000 a year for Cortes Island’s Grants in Aid. When the time to disburse the funds arrives, he normally receives requests for far more money than is available. This year was no exception; however, thanks to the Cortes Island Community Foundation, nearly all these requests will be met.

Image credit: Coins – Photo by Dtroc via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

As Director Vonesch explained at the January 28 Board Meeting:

“Similar to previous years, we received a lot more applications than we had funding for. I had roughly $25,000 to spend and we had over $50,000 in applications. I worked with the Cortes Island Community Foundation to put together a community jury of members who were not on non-profit boards or staff, and were not connected to those non-profits in a way that would create a conflict of interest. They held a series of meetings and went through the applications.”

“I’m delighted to say that the Cortes Island Community Foundation privately raised an extra $25,000 for these applications this year. So, almost all of the funding requests will be met—assuming these are passed by the board today—both through the SRD Grant-in-Aid program and through the Cortes Island Community Foundation. I’m happy to take any questions.”

Director Doug Chapman has a question – Screenshot from YouTube of meeting

Campbell River Director Doug Chapman asked: “A quick question for the finance staff. The budget has not been passed yet, but we’re depending on last year’s budget as a provision. Is this all covered in that provisional budget?”

Staff responded: “Yes, both the provisional budget and the draft budget that you see today shall be covered.”

Director Vonesch then moved that the board approve the following Grants-in-Aid to be paid from the Electoral Area B (Cortes Island) budget:

  • $5,000 to the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI) to assist with a new website.
  • $4,100 to the Cortes Island Women’s Resource Society to assist with winter operations and community support.
  • $4,000 to the Evagorix Wave and Range Club to assist with volunteer support and appreciation.
  • $5,000 to the Cortes Community Radio Society to assist with Love Fest and the Village Common Music Series.
  • $5,000 to the Island DeathCare Society to assist with facilitating end-of-life planning and community resilience.
  • $1,900 to the Support Our Seniors Society to assist with heat pump incentive support.

When it came time to vote, the SRD board passed all of the proposed grant allocations. While Cortes Currents does not yet have the final combined figures, the original requests were:

  • FOCI: $10,000 (so, half coming from the Cortes Community Foundation) 
  • Cortes Island Women’s Centre: $5,000 (about $900 from the Foundation)  
  • Whaletown (Evagorix) Wave and Range Club: $4,000
  • Cortes Community Radio Society: $5,000
  • Island Death Care Society: $5,000
  • Support Our Seniors Society: $6,000 (about $4,100 coming from the Foundation) 
  • Cortes Community Health Association: $10,000 (100% funding coming from the Foundation) 
  • Hollyhock Cortes Coop: $3,500 (100% from the Foundation) 
  • Cortes Island School Parent Advisory Council: $3,500 (100% from the Foundation) 

Thanks to the Cortes Island Community Foundation making up the shortfall, it sounds like almost all of these requests will be met.

More details to follow – including what does ‘ALMOST ALL’ of the funding mean?

Links of Interest:

Top image credit: Looking across from Smelt Bay to Quadra and Campbell River – Photo courtesy CCEDA website

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